The ‘Gen Z Stare': What It Means And What's Underneath It At Work

Forbes

16-07-2025

It's more than a blank, disengaged expression. It's called the "Gen Z stare," a new TikTok trend ... More making waves in the workplace with deeper meaning than meets the eye that employers can't afford to ignore.
The Gen Z generation is getting a lot of press lately, sending shock waves through the work world with something called the 'Gen Z stare.' It's described as a long, blank and expressionless stare in a variety of social situations. Although many critics reduce the look to a silly, disengaged expression, experts argue that surface interpretations are short-sighted and Gen Zers are being misjudged. Experts contend that the 'Gen Z Stare' represents something deeper, more meaningful and far more serious than what you see on the surface.
What Is The 'Gen Z Stare'?
Recently, a young Gen Zer served me coffee at Starbucks, and I noticed it: the 'Gen Z stare"--her flat, zombie-like look that was difficult to read. Thankfully, I had heard about the trend making waves on TikTok. The blank, disengaged expression has been showing up during workplace meetings and daily interactions with customers.
Critics often assail the stare, making snap judgments about what it means: boredom, indifference, superiority, judgment or just sheer silliness--even a death stare. Perhaps the declining Gen Z reputation provides a negative context for the snap judgments. In the past, Gen Z has been labeled as oppositional and difficult to manage. They are willing to quit a job if it doesn't prioritize work-life balance and a healthy culture and expect a promotion in one year or less.
But sometimes the criticisms leveled against them are too harsh and one-sided. Experts say the blank stare in social situations--when a verbal response is more typical--reveals more about shifting workplace culture, communication gaps across generations and a growing disconnect between Gen Z and traditional office culture.
I spoke with Vistage chief research officer Joe Galvin, who told me that the unblinking look can often be misinterpreted as disengagement, disinterest or even defiance. 'Similar to past trends such as 'quiet quitting,' the 'Gen Z stare' is more than just a viral buzzword; it is not a new problem, but it is a pervasive one, highlighting a larger issue in today's workplace: a growing generational disconnect in employee communication and expectations,' Galvin asserts.
Younger generations are approaching work differently. During the pandemic, the Gen Z computer screens replaced face-to-face contact, depriving them of normal social interactions during critical stages of development. As a result, some experts believe Gen Z is unsure how to engage in small talk or interact with people they don't know.
In fact, the frozen expression does resemble the third trauma 'freeze' reaction, like a deer caught in the headlights. In a way, the frozen look resembles a social disability, resulting from deprived social interactions during the Gen Z formative years.
Galvin says the facial expression is a subtle cue from a digital-native generation raised on screens, fast content and online communication. 'For many Gen Zers, constant eye contact doesn't always signal attentiveness the way it might for older colleagues,' he explains. 'What a Boomer or Gen X manager may perceive as checked-out might actually be Gen Z's version of active listening.'
Sujay Saha, president of Cortico-X agrees. 'Gen Z entered the workforce in an era defined by screens, social distancing and remote communication, and companies must now close the experience gap with empathy-focused onboarding and support, not judgment,' he told me.
Why Employers Need To Understand The 'Gen Z Stare'
Listen up, employers. It's easy to see how the 'Gen Z stare' could be misread in the workplace, but drawing conclusions without evidence can be harmful for an employee. The old adage, 'Don't judge a book by its cover' applies here. The 'Gen Z stare' is another in a long string of misjudgments targeting the younger generation in which established older generations draw unfounded, negative conclusions.
Galvin advises leaders to move beyond snap judgments and take a closer look at how they interpret employee behavior. 'Are team members truly disengaged, or are leaders relying on outdated ideas of what attentiveness and participation should look like?' he asks. 'Just as importantly, they must ask themselves whether they're creating an environment that encourages open communication across different styles and generations.'
Galvin argues that the real challenge lies in the widening gap between evolving employee behaviors and long-standing workplace norms. He says in today's multi-generational workforce, there's no one-size-fits-all definition of engagement. 'Misreading body language or communication styles can create unnecessary confusion and frustration, as well as missed opportunities to connect.'
Saha stresses that it's important for employers to understand how to connect with the Gen Z population. He suggests using observational research to see how gen Z employees in a fast casual restaurant interact with gen Z customers to identify what an authentic interaction looks like to them, both as an employee and a customer, and then use what you learn to help build your training program for employees.
Saha also advocates reframing the negative reputation that follows Gen Z into the workplace. 'Instead of saying the GenZ workforce lacks direction or purpose or is difficult to work with (lower loyalty and higher expectations), re-frame the conversation to understand how their unique context can help push firms in a newer direction.'
A Final Wrap On The 'Gen Z Stare'
According to Galvin, younger workers thrive in environments that prioritize authenticity, flexibility, transparency and a shared purpose. 'They want mentorship, not micromanagement. They value meaningful work, not just a paycheck,' he points out. 'To better engage Gen Z, leaders must cultivate a culture of open dialogue, set clear expectations and be willing to evolve how they lead as younger generations continue to enter the workforce and rise through the ranks.'
News outlets are mocking the "Gen Z stare,' some calling it a catatonic state and mimicking schizophrenic eye-rolling, just as they parodied the 'hey-hanging" trend last year. It's human nature for people to laugh at or make fun of phenomena they don't understand. But experts collectively believe that employers cannot afford to misunderstand and misjudge the future generation that will dominate the workplace by 2030.